Edward showed his son his D&D miniatures.

"This is the latest miniature I'm working on," Edward said proudly, showing off the partially painted large resin statuette of Demongorgon, Prince of the Demons. The demon lord was a mix of different beasts -- two hideous baboon heads surmounted a great ape torso with long suckered tentacle arms on top of a lower saurian body with clawed, webbed feet.

"Wow, that's huge!" Ryan exclaimed, impressed with large figurine his father had. "How did you manage to get it? I thought it was a very limited run?"

"I got it on eBay after a lot of pleading, begging, and whining to your mother," Edward sighed. "Don't ask her how much it cost..."

"How much did it cost, dad?"

"Too much according to your mother but worth every penny to me," Edward grinned.

"I miss playing D&D with you, dad."

"Me too, son."

"I'm glad that you made it acceptable for me to become a nerd."

"Why wouldn't I when I'm one myself?" Edward laughed. "Be proud of your interests that makes you happy!"

"Well, because of my interests I'm an archeologist now."

"I was hoping you would become an astrophysicist like your parents..."

"I almost married one..."

"Madelaine says hi by the way."

"Tell her hi back."

"You can tell yourself when you drop by the campus this week."

"Wouldn't that be a bit awkward with my new wife with me?"

"It's only awkward if you make it awkward, son," Edward said as he put away the Demogorgon figure.

"I guess you're right..."

Edward took out a painted miniature of a succubus with her large bat-like wings extended out.

"You haven't played the new edition yet, have you?" Edward asked.

"No," Ryan shook his head.

"They made the succubi no longer demons but just fiends who play both sides of the Blood War."

"Huh."

"I'm glad they got rid of the energy drain mechanic," Edward said as he took out a painted female paladin miniature. "It was way overpowered."

"Yeah, I agree..." Ryan muttered, absently touching his lip with his fingers.

"Does Sam roleplay?" Edward asked.

Ryan was tempted to joke that role-playing was part of her nature but instead he just shook his head.

"You should ask her if she wants to try to play an one-shot with us," Edward suggested, taking out a fully painted huge red dragon figurine.

"I'll ask her," Ryan answered. "I think she likes fantasy."

"Ask her and we can play before you two fly out to Paris."

"Sure, dad," Ryan nodded, wondering what kind of character Marlissa would roll if she agreed to play.